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Positive and Negative Interpretation Biases in the Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Depressive Symptoms in Primarily White Emerging Adults

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Abstract

Objectives

Theoretical and empirical work support the value of using an empirically derived model of trait mindfulness and lays the groundwork for questions about how to model mindfulness, how mindfulness and interpretation biases (IBs) are linked, and how IBs may explain the association between mindfulness and depressive symptoms—a major public health concern for emerging adults (EAs).

Methods

Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) was used to empirically derive a model of mindfulness from a sample of 258 primarily White EAs. Structural equation models were then built to explore relationships among the individual factors of mindfulness, positive and negative interpretation bias, and depressive symptoms.

Results

Findings suggested a bi-factor (ESEM) model of mindfulness best fit the data, with four factors of attention (ATT), acceptance (AC), non-judgment (NJ), and non-judgmental acceptance (NJAC; the bi-factor). Results showed the NJAC factor to be most robustly related to depressive symptoms through positive and negative IBs (standardized indirect effects: negative biases β =  − 0.12, SE = 0.05, p = .016; positive biases β =  − 0.10, SE = 0.05, p = .035).

Conclusions

Mindfulness is a complex construct that does not reflect an overarching latent factor in this sample but rather is indicated by the separate factors of ATT, NJ, AC, and NJAC that should be considered individually in relation to outcomes. NJAC, and not ATT, contributes to lower levels of depressive symptoms in EAs in part through decreased negative and increased positive IBs.

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Data Availability

Data was not able to be shared in an open-access repository because language acknowledging this possibility was not included in the original consent form signed by participants.

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Funding

This project was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation. The sponsor did not have a role in the study design; collection, analysis or interpretation of the data; the writing of the report; or in our decision to submit this article for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, 140 Decatur St. SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA

    Meghan S. Goyer & Laura G. McKee

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Justin Parent

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  1. Meghan S. Goyer
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Contributions

M. G.: Conceptualized the study, performed all formal data analysis, and wrote the paper. L. M.: Obtained funding for the study, prepared all material, collected the data, and collaborated on conceptualization, analysis, and editing of the study manuscript. J. P.: Collaborated on data analysis, interpretation of results, and editing of the paper. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.

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Correspondence to Meghan S. Goyer.

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This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the ethics committees of Clark University (IRB number: 2012–007) and Georgia State University (IRB number: H18567).

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Goyer, M.S., McKee, L.G. & Parent, J. Positive and Negative Interpretation Biases in the Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Depressive Symptoms in Primarily White Emerging Adults. Mindfulness 13, 1258–1270 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01873-z

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